Preparations continue for Barbuda Council by-election

Training has begun for the polling clerks and presiding officers ahead of the Barbuda Council by-election scheduled for April 30.
Vernest Mack, the returning officer responsible for executing the election, said that she commenced training a total of 10 people who will be working under her leadership at the election on Monday. The training started on Thursday and will continue into the weekend.
Three candidates are vying for the seat left vacant by Trevor Walker, who had to resign from the council after he was elected as a member of Parliament last month, earning an automatic seat on the council.
Mack said that most of the people being trained, worked for the recent general elections.
“We will be having three presiding officers because we will be having three polling stations … The process for the by-election is the same as for the general election… all workers should be trained in their duties exactly how the process is to be carried out on Monday.
“Most of the persons, if not all, worked before, either for council elections or in the general elections in March this year so they are all familiar with the process so we are not doing a whole week of training as we did before,” she explained.
Seven polling clerks are being training in addition to the three presiding officers who will manage three polling stations.
Mack is encouraging eligible voters to participate in the process which starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m.
The electors have to choose one of three candidates: Calsey Beazer from the Barbuda People’s Movement, Ricardo Nedd of the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party and Primrose Thomas of the Go Green For Life party. The election is to be held at the Sir McChesney George Secondary School.